Aims: The present study investigated the potential nephroprotective activity of aqueous and hydroethanolic extracts of Trema guineensis leaves (Ulmaceae) and determined the most active extract in rat.

Study Design: Trema guineensis leaves were collected from Abobo in the district of Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire). The plant was identified and authenticated by the Department of Botany, Felix Houphouet Boigny University of Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire).

Place and Duration of Study: Analysis of the plant samples was done in pharmacodynamics Biochemistry Laboratory, Felix Houphouet Boigny University, the Laboratory of Organic Chemistry and Natural Substances, Felix Houphouet Boigny University and the Laboratory of Pharmacology, clinical and therapeutic pharmacy, UFR Pharmaceutical and Biologic Sciences, Felix Houphouet Boigny University between September and October 2016.

Methodology: The extracts obtained starting from 100 g of plant powder on the one hand by decoction in 1 Liter of distilled water and on the other hand by maceration in 1 Liter of ethanol-water mixture 70% (70:30, v/v). The aqueous and hydroethanolic extracts at doses 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight were studied in comparison with vitamin E (250 mg/kg body weight) against gentamicin-induced renal toxicity (80 mg/kg/day). In assessing nephroprotective effect, rats were pretreated by oral gavage daily with vitamin E and extracts at different doses (100 and 200 mg/kg body weight) one hour before gentamicin intraperitoneal injection for seven days.

Results: The administration of gentamicin through intraperitoneal route to rats for seven days, resulted in an increase in urea and creatinine concentrations as well as decrease of total protein concentration in the serum. The values of total protein and albumin concentrations increased in urine after administration of gentamicin. Trema guineensis aqueous and hydroethanolic extracts used to treat animals suffering from nephrotoxicity would have significantly reduced (P < 0.001 and P < 0.01) biochemical parameters considered as markers of nephrotoxicity. Moreover, the aqueous extract (200 mg/kg body weight) and vitamin E restored the toxic effect of gentamicin into equal significance.

Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the aqueous extract possesses a nephroprotective activity against gentamicin-induced kidney damage in rats. So aqueous extract can be utilized for preventives purposes.